Gender Differences in the Effects of Exposure to Violence on Adolescent Substance Use

Authors

Gillian M. Pichevsky, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Emily M. Wright, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Abigail A. Fagan, Florida State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Publication Title

Violence and Victims

Volume

28

Issue

1

First Page

122

Last Page

144

Abstract

To date, research exploring gender differences in the relationship between exposure to community violence and substance use has been limited. This study employs longitudinal data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) to assess the exposure to violence–substance use relationship and explore whether this relationship varies by gender. We find that the two forms of exposure to violence—direct (primary) and indirect (secondary)—independently increase the frequency of subsequent alcohol use, binge drinking, and marijuana use among males and females. One gender difference emerged, as females who had been directly victimized engaged in more frequent binge drinking than males who had been directly victimized. Across both sexes, the effect of each form of violence weakened when other predictors of substance use were included in the models. Future directions for this research are discussed, including policy recommendations to help adolescents cope with victimization experiences.

Comments

© 2013 Springer. Please visit the journal's homepage here: https://www.springerpub.com/journals/violence-and-victims.html

Recommended Citation

Pichevsky, Gillian M.; Wright, Emily M.; and Fagan, Abigail A., "Gender Differences in the Effects of Exposure to Violence on Adolescent Substance Use" (2013). Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications. 40.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/criminaljusticefacpub/40